Capt Schettino has previously claimed that he accidentally "tripped" and tumbled into a lifeboat, which was then lowered and took him to shore.

"The idea that he abandoned the ship is a wrong interpretation," Mr Pepe, Schettino's lawyer, said outside court. "We want the truth to come out of this trial".

Capt Schettino says he has been made a scapegoat by Costa Cruises, the Italian company that owns the ship, claiming that managers encouraged him to sail close to Giglio in order to provide a spectacle for passengers.

There is currently a long break in legal proceedings over the summer, with the trial set to reconvene on Monday 23 September.

Up to 700 witnesses and plaintiffs are expected to attend the trial, meaning it could last for years.